September 19, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
An alert Alexandria Police officer discovered a break-in at a church there Saturday evening and later caught the two people believed responsible for the crime.
18-year-old Nickoli Delmerovich-Nunes Dagrella of Alepna, Michigan is charged with burglary, vandalism, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His court date is September 29. A 16-year-old was also taken into custody and will make an appearance in DeKalb County Juvenile Court.
In a prepared statement, Alexandria Police Chief Chris Russell explained how the events unfolded leading to the arrests.
“On September 17, 2022, Sergeant Josh Arnold of the Alexandria Police Department was on patrol on Cemetery Street and observed an open door and a window air conditioner unit that had been tampered with at the historic Seay Church. Upon further investigation it was determined that someone had forced entry by breaking open a side door causing damage. Sergeant Arnold had noticed a vehicle leaving the area prior to discovering the burglary.”
“A few hours later, Sergeant Arnold again went back to the church and noticed the same vehicle unoccupied parked by the side of the church. While waiting for additional law enforcement, Sergeant Arnold located and detained Dagrella and then arrested the juvenile after spotting him in the woods. Further investigation revealed that the pair was responsible for the earlier burglary at the church. A computer check through NCIC revealed that the juvenile was reported as a missing person out of Georgia,” said Chief Russell.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department responded to assist the Alexandria Police Department in the case.